To configure an agent you may use rma_cfg.exe program (after installation it will be located in the same directory where an agent is installed) or you may start an agent and click on "Settings" button on the tool bar. This button launches the same configuration utility which pops up as a new window.

The left part of the configuration window mostly contains information about an agent. Those fields (from the top to the bottom of the window) are joined into three groups: Agent information, Statistics and Agent status.

Agent information:
You are not able to change information shown in grey fields. They show data that was predefined by a software developer.

Agent status
These three fields show the status of an agent as an application or Win32 service (you may start an agent in either of these two modes). Also this section shows you the state of currently edited agent configuration i.e.: are the changes for the current configuration already saved or not. Each field is followed by a corresponding control button:

• Settings: initially, or after you just have started configuration utility, this field says "Applied". This means that the current settings of RMA were not changed yet. As soon as you start typing in any of the fields available for the user, caption changes to "Modifications are not saved" as a reminder that the current changes for the configuration are not saved and thus are not in effect. Only after you click the button "Apply" the changes will be saved. Note that after you have applied changes the caption returns to "Applied".
  
  

• Application status: says either "Active" when RMA is running as a regular application or "Not Active" when RMA is not running. The button beside this field is correspondingly captioned saying "Activate" when RMA is not running, so it will start RMA if you press it. Caption "Deactivate" on the button means that RMA is currently running as a regular application and if you press the button it will be terminated.
  Note that the configuration utility is a separate application and it may run independently, even when RMA is not running.
  
  

• Service status: On Windows NT/2000/XP agent can be installed as a Win32 service. This field and the button display and control the status of RMA as a Win32 service. "Not installed" means RMA is not installed as a Win32 service. "Installed" means that RMA is already installed as a Win32 service. The button beside the field changes its` caption correspondingly - "Uninstall" when RMA is installed as a Win32 service or "Install" when its not. RMA in a Win32 service mode is loaded automatically at a system startup.
  
  

• Service state: this field is empty when Win32 service is not installed. After the servise was installed the following captions will tell you its status: "STOPPED" means the service is installed but not started. "STARTED" is displayed when the service is running. The button "Start/Stop" allows you to start or stop the service.

• Port
  specifies the TCP port number which RMA utilizes to listen for incoming connections. Default setting is #1055.
  
  
• Timeout
  the maximum amount of time (in seconds) that agent will keep waiting for the complete request packet from HostMonitor (after initial TCP connection established) before dropping the connection.
  
  

• Password
  minimum six character length password. Using of an empty password is not permitted. The password is required for every communication session between RMA and HostMonitor or RMA and RMA Manager. All traffic between RMA and HostMonitor or RMA and RMA Manager is encrypted and the password itself is never transmitted through the network without encryption.

• Accept connections from any IP address
  enabling this option will allow RMA to accept control commands from any IP address (as long as the incoming connection provides correct password)

• Accept connections from following addresses
  specifies the list of IP addresses. After enabling this option RMA will accept remote connections only from the addresses in this list (password is required as always). Usually you have to add just one address to this list, namely the one for the system where HostMonitor is running.
  To add an address to the list press Insert key, to remove an address from the list press Ctrl+Del, to edit item press Enter or double-click it.
  
  

• Enable following tests
  specifies the list of tests methods allowed for execution by this RMA. To enable a test mark the corresponding check box, to disable a test unmark the box near it.
  
  

• Enable remote management from address
  this option sets the IP address from which it is allowed to control and manage RMA. Using RMA Manager installed on the system with that IP address you will be able to change agent's settings remotely, also you will be able to restart and terminate an agent.
  Note: Instead of single IP address you may specify a list and/or a range of IP addresses. IP addresses in the list should be separated by comma. Dash is used to define a range of addresses. Example: "127.0.0.1,  192.168.13.10 - 192.168.13.99,  165.14.22.1".
  
  

• Enable remote updates from address
  this option allows remote updates of the RMA code (e.g. when a new version is available) from the IP address being provided. You may provide single IP address or you may specify a list and/or a range of IP addresses. IP addresses in the list should be separated by comma. Dash is used to define a range of addresses. Example: "127.0.0.1,  192.168.13.10 - 192.168.13.99,  165.14.22.1".
  To upgrade an array of remote agents you may use RMA Manager.
  
  

• Successful audit log to
  here you may specify a log file where agent will store information about successfully accepted connections. This log has no use when everything works well (it then just takes space on the hard drive), but you may found it really helpful when a sophisticated network problem has to be fixed. If you specify just the name of the file (without a full path), an agent will store a log in the same directory where it was started from.
  
  

• Failure audit log to
  you may specify another log file where an agent will store information about rejected requests. E.g.: connections from an IP addresses that are not allowed or connections with invalid password, etc. Log file is a simple text file that contains date of the event, remote IP address from which an attempt of connection has occurred and information about the error. If you specify just the file name (without path), an agent will store it in the directory where it was started from.

How to use

O.k., now when you have your agents installed in different networks, how to use them?
HostMonitor since version 4.0 supports a list of remote agents and can perform tests not only by itself but also may send a request to the agent which will then execute the test. Every test in HostMonitor has now an additional property: "Test by". By default it has the value "HostMonitor"; it means that the test will be executed by HostMonitor. Alternatively you may choose an agent from drop down list and the test will be performed by that agent.

• Install an agent on the system with Windows NT/2000/XP Server edition.
• Or you may set parameter "Do not start more then [N] tests per second" to 5 or less. This option is located on Behavior page in the HostMonitors` options dialog.

How much does it cost?

When you purchase an Advanced Host Monitor ENTERPRISE edition you will get the license for 10 installations of the agent at no cost. Otherwise you may buy licenses in sets of 10 ($80 per 10 licenses) or in sets of 100 licenses ($300 per one set of 100). You may order Remote Monitoring Agent using credit card, Switch and Solo debit cards, check/money order or wire transfer. If you are concerned about submitting your order and/or credit card information online, you may order the license via phone, fax or postal mail.
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